Gasoline-cleaning tank



Aprii' 22 19.24. 1,491,254

H.' C. BECKMAN GASOLINE CLEANING TANK Filed Febwl7. 1921 //VVEIV70P WIT/V5.98: i W Herman g fieczliman ATTOR/VEX mam an efficient, rapid and simple process for Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT or F I C E HERMAN O. BEGKMAN, OF BER-WYN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LARTAL SEPARA- TOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF JERSEY. I

GASOLINE-CLEANING TANK.

Application filed February 17,- 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I HERMAN O. BEoKMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Berwyn, county of Cook, and State of Illi-' nois, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Gasoline-Cleaning Tanks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the art ofcleaning gasoline or other volatile cleaning fluid, such as naphtha and benzol, all of WhlCh are intended to-be comprised within the term gasoline.

The object of the invention is to PI'OVldQ an apparatus especially adapted to carry out cleaning dirty gasoline. This process forms the subject-matter of a divisional application filed vJune 6, 1923, Serial No. 643,634.

The apparatus that I have devised is one that is simple, cheap of construction, readily filled, and from which the treated gasoline may be removed free from sludge, and from which the sludge can readily be removed from the apparatus when desired.

The process and apparatus are more particularly adapted for cleaning gasoline which has been used by cleaners in the cleaning or scouring of wearing apparel and which is charged with moisture, fats and dirts.

The apparatus for carrying out my process is of reduced diameter at its lower end.

The ap ar'atus is first charged with a reagent w 'ch will chemicallyact on and combine with the fats and other impurities, and take up the moisture, in the gasoline, and at the same time envelop or free the particles of dirt held in suspension in the fat in the gasoline.

The dirty soline is then charged into the tank or t e container near the bottom thereof, so that the gasoline, which is lighter than the reagent, will be forced throughthe reagent or thoroughly mixed therewith, whereby the fats will be made insoluble in the gasoline. V

The charge is then allowed to settle for a short time (say, fifteen minutes or somewhat-longer) to permit the combined fat, to which a large portion of the dirt adheres, as well as the water, to settle. After settlement the cleaned gasolineis withdrawn to a Serial No. 445,625.

' predetermined level above the sludge or reagent in the bottom of the tank. The tank 1s again charged and the process repeated without removing the precipitant or reagent after each charge, as the reagent can be used for cleaning a number of charges of gasoline, the number depending upon the amount of impurities contained in the gasoline. When it is desired to renew the reagent, the precipitated dirt and impurities and a small proportion of gasoline, which forms a sludge are drawn from the bottom of the tank without withdrawing any substantial part of, the gasoline above the sludge. The tank is again charged with fresh reagent, and the operation is repeated.

In carrying out the process, I do not attempt to withdraw all of the gasoline from the treating tank, but only draw to a level somewhat above the reagent to avoid withdrawing gasoline with foreign material in suspens1o The gasoline withdrawn from the tank may not be deemed purified to the'degree of thoroughness desirable, and in that case I may centrifuge the same. Any suitable centrifuge ma be used, for example: those shown in t e Snyder Patent No. 1,283,343, October 29, 1918, or'in Fig. 1 of the Hall Patent No. 1,422,852, July 18, 1922. 1 During its centrifuging, water is run into the separator bowl, the water serving to wash out traces of reagent and acting as a vehicle to carry ofi the heavier dirt and prevent. the adherence to the bowl wall. 2 v

If desired, a greater amount of gasoline than above set forth may be withdrawn from the tank so that practically nothing will be left in the tank except a bottom layer of sludge; but in this case the necessity for centrifugation is more imperative.

It is undesirable to depend wholly upon the processing tank for purification, as it would involve such a prolongation of the time of settlement that unsaponifiable fatty or greasy materials that will be held temporarily in an emulsion with the soaps will eventually pass into solution with the gasoline. It is desirable, therefore, to shorten partially broken away, an apparatus embodying my invention.

In this drawing, 5 designates a cyl1ndr1- cal tank having a bottom 6 of comcal form so as to reduce the diameter of the tank near the lower end, to concentrate the reagent at the center of the bottom. 7 are.

socket members connected to the wall of the tank for the reception of the upper ends of supporting standards 8, when the device is to be supported on the floor, and which are closed position to prevent the escape of fumes or gas, and also to permit it to readily open if an explosion should take place in the tank and then close to smother'the flames.

Leading into-the tank through the cover section 10 to a point just above the bottom of the tank and at the point where the reagent concentrates is an inlet pipe 12, which is connected to a source of supply for the gasoline to be treated. In a branch from the pipe 12 is a check valve 13, arranged to open toward the pipe 12. While gasoline is being pumped into the tank, valve 13 closes. Valve 13 opens to admit air, if there is a tendency for gasoline to siphon out of the tank, which would be apt to occur after the supply pump is stopped, it the source of supply is below the tank. Leading from the tank considerably above the lower end thereof is an outletpipe 1 1 which is connected to a T 15. which is in turn connected at 16 to a pipe leading to a suitable delivery point. IL is a cock in 'the pipe 14: for controlling? the flow therethrough. 18 is a pipe open" to the interior of the tank at one end and is connected at its other end to a rotatable coupling 19, which is connected to the pipe 14. Secured tov the pipe 18, near its open end. is a float 20, which is arranged to maintain the open end of the pipe just below the top of the fluid within the tank, if the fluid in the tank is above a predetermined level. 21 is a stop for the pipe 18, which will prevent said pipe from dropping below a predetermined. level, and consequently determining the level to which the gasoline can be withdrawn through the outlet pipe 14. If desired, the stop 21 ma be made adjustableto vary the level to w ich the fluid can be withdrawn through the outlet 14. 22'is a T which is connec to the lowest portion of the conical bo to the T 15 by means of a pipe 23, and to the sewer or other suitable point of discharge by a pipe 24. The pipes 23 and 24 are provided with valves 25 and 26 respectively, to control the flow from the tank.

The cross pipe 23 may be eliminated, if desired. 27 is a valve-controlled inlet to the tank having a funnel 28 connected thereto, which may be used for introducing the reagent. Slidably mounted between rods 29 within the tank is a float 30, which is connected by means of a cord 31 to an indicator 32 slidably mounted on a scale 33 on the outside of the tank. I

In the process of cleaning gasoline, a reagent, which may consist of a solution made up of one pound of caustic soda to four gallons of water, is first introduced into the tank, either through the opening covered. by the section 11 of the cover or the pipe 27, which is closed after the reagent has been introduced. V

The amount of reagent charged into the tank is such that 'the top thereof is consider-- ably below the open end of the pipe 18, when said pipe is resting on the stop 21, The gasoline to be cleaned is now pumped, or introduced in any other manner, into the tank through the pipe 12, and as the delivery end of said pipe is near the bottom of the tank and considerably below the top of the reagent, the gasoline will be forced through the reagent and thoroughly mixed therewith, so that all of the gasoline delivered to the tank will be acted on by the reagent. After the desired amount of gaso-' line has been introduced into the tank, the

charge is allowed to settle for about fifteen minutes, or somewhat longer. After the desired settlement has taken place, the cook 17 is opened and the cleaned gasoline will be drawn from the top through the pipe 18,

.fall of outlet pipe 18 considerably above the top of the reagent, there will still remain in the tank a quantity of gasoline. This is done to avoid all danger of withdrawing any of the rea cut or any of the gasoline from which t 1e sludge or dirt has not settled. The cock 17 is now closed and the operation repeated until it is desired to renew the reagent or empty the tank.

If it is only desired to renew the reagent, the valve 26 is opened to permit the sludge or settling and reagent to pass off to the sewer or other suitable point, and as soon as gasoline starts to flow from the tankthe cock is closed, and a fresh supply of reagent is introduced. If it is desired to empty the tank, the sludge is first drawn off as above 1: ib d, and the remaining gasoline is of an acid, or of analkali, or of an acid followed by an alkali, in the process of purifying a mineral oil product.

My process involves a number of features contributing to its success, notably the provision for forcing the dirty gasoline into intimate contact with the reagent, the withdrawal .of,the treated gasoline from the container from a level safely above the top ofthe reagent to prevent disturbance of the reagent and to prevent withdrawal of in sufliciently cleaned gasoline, and the pro-' vision for. using the same reagent repeatedly. The apparatus also presents a number of novel features whereby the process may be carried on with certainty, expedition and convenience, and whereby provision is made for any contingencies that may be reasonably expected to arise.

While it is preferred to treat successive. batches of gasoline, as hereinbefore described, it is also possible to operate the process in a hontinuous manner. To this end I have provided an overflow pipe 34 communicating with the tank near its top. The pipe 34 is controlled by a valve 35, which is closed when the process is carried on as hereinbefore described. When it is desired to operate the process continuously,

the swinging float feed 18-49 is removed and the valve 35 opened. The reagent is introduced into the tank and the gasoline to be purified pumped into the tank, as hereinbefore described. While a very thorough mixture and effective agitation of the gasoline and reagent occur in the lower part of the tank, the upper portion of the body of liquid is relatively quiescent and no gasoline will rise to the level of the overflow that has not been thoroughly treated and from which the combined fat, adhering dirt and water has not settled. After the gasoline starts to overflow, dirty gasoline is pum ed into the tank continuously, the rate of ow being as rapid as is consistent with obtaining at the overflow asufficiently purified product.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by I Letters Patent is 1. In a clarifying tank, a drain pipe connected to the lowest portion of the bottom of the tank, a feed pipe arranged to-deliver Further, I do not claim the liquid to be clarified to apoint adjacent to the mouth of the drain pipe, the bottom part of the tank sloping from substantially above the level of the feed pipe discharge, downward and inward and reduced (in diameter at the lowest portion to concentrate the reagent toact on the liquid tobe clarified around said discharge, there being two outlet-pipes from the tank, one connected to the tank a relatively short distance above its sloping bottom and the other relatively near the upper end of the tank.

2. Av -.-larif ving tank having a bottom part extending downward and inward and reduced in diameter at the lower portion,

a drain pipe connected to bottom at its lowest portion, a feed pipe arranged to deliver the liquidto be'clarified to a point adjacent to the mouth of the drain pipe and below the upper plane of the bottom, a floating outlet pipe for the treated liquid arranged to skim the liquid'from the top and fall as the liquid falls, and means for preventing the liquid below a predetermined level from flowing through said outletpipe.

3. A clarifying tank having a bottom part extending downward and inward and reduced in diameter at the lower portion, a drain pipe connected to bottom at its lowest portion, a feed pipe arranged to deliver the liquid to be clarified to a point adjacent to the mouth of the drain pipe and below the upper plane of the bottom, a floating outlet pipe for the treated liquid arranged to skim the liquid from the top and fall as the liquid falls, and a stop. for

the outlet pipe 'to prevent the inlet end. thereof falling below the upper plane of the conical'bottom.

4.,A clarifying tank having a bottom part extending downward and inward and reduced in diameter at the lower portion, a drain pipe connected to 'bottom at'its lowest portion, a feed pipe arranged to deliver the liquid to clarified to a point adjacent to the mouth of the drain pipe and below the upper plane of the bottom, an outlet pipe for the treated liquid leading from the tank at a point above the mouth of the inlet, an inlet pipe for the reagent hav ing an inlet opening thereto slightly above the normal level of the reagent, and a valve in said pipe.

5. A gasoline clarifying tank having a bottomv part extending downward and inward and reduced in diameter at the lower portion, thereby providing a space for the reagent and thoroughly mixed therewith, a

floating outlet pipe for the treated gasoline above the lower layer of reagent and thereby arranged to skim the gasoline from the top prevent any substantial withdrawal of re- 10 of the body 01' gasoline, and means to preagent or dirty gasoline.

rent the gasoline discharging through the In testimony of which invention, I have outlet pipe when the reduced level of gashereunto set my hand, at Chicago, 111., on

oline is still substantially above the lower this 12th day of February, 1921.

end of the feed pipe so as to leave in the v tank, upon settlement, a layer of gasoline HERMAN C. BECKMAN. 

